Black Stars head coach Otto Addo has delivered a blunt message to foreign-born players suddenly interested in representing Ghana now that the team has qualified for the 2026 World Cup: those who ignored his calls for years shouldn’t expect automatic places just because the stakes have gotten higher.
Speaking to 3Sports following Ghana’s qualification for the tournament, Addo revealed he’s been pursuing several dual-nationality players since 2021, only to have some ignore his calls or turn down opportunities to join the national setup. Now that Ghana has secured its spot at the World Cup, speculation has intensified around England-born duo Callum Hudson-Odoi and Eddie Nketiah, with reports suggesting renewed interest from both players in switching allegiance to the Black Stars.
Addo made clear that timing matters when it comes to commitment. There are players he’s been chasing since 2021 who didn’t reply to calls or want to come, he explained. It’s a different thing if the team hasn’t approached someone and now they want to come. But if Ghana has been reaching out all along and they said no, and now that the Black Stars are at the World Cup they want to come, that’s a different matter entirely.
The German-born tactician, who has now guided Ghana to back-to-back World Cup appearances, emphasized that loyalty and commitment will remain central to his selection decisions. He stressed that Ghana should always have a certain pride, and as a country, officials need to check the commitment of each player, which is very crucial. The team has very good unity, and they definitely don’t want to destroy it by bringing in players who don’t have commitment.
Addo’s comments reflect growing frustration within Ghanaian football circles about players who appear to view the Black Stars as a backup option when European national teams don’t come calling. It’s a tension that’s existed for years, but Ghana’s World Cup qualification has brought the issue into sharper focus as more dual-nationality players reportedly express interest in switching allegiance.
The coach made clear he’ll evaluate each case individually rather than applying a blanket policy. Performance and commitment will be key criteria when assessing potential additions, he noted. The team needs to look at the best players, and the higher the quality of the group, the higher the players push each other. But quality alone won’t be enough if the commitment isn’t there to match.
Hudson-Odoi previously represented England at youth levels and earned three senior caps but hasn’t featured for the Three Lions since 2019. Nketiah, who scored 23 goals in 36 appearances for England’s Under-21s, has yet to receive a senior call-up despite Arsenal and now Nottingham Forest giving him Premier League experience. Both players have reportedly shown interest in representing Ghana, but their previous decisions not to commit when approached earlier complicate their current positions.
The situation with Inaki Williams offers an interesting contrast. The Athletic Bilbao forward made his debut for Ghana ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and has remained part of the national setup despite limited goal returns. Addo called on Williams to better adapt to the national team as Ghana prepares for next year’s tournament, suggesting that even players who’ve already committed need to demonstrate they’re fully invested in the project.
Jordan Ayew represents the kind of commitment Addo appears to be valuing. The Leicester City forward played a crucial role in Ghana’s qualification campaign, registering seven goals and seven assists, contributing directly to 14 goals in just 10 appearances. Addo praised the 33-year-old captain’s consistency and maturity, noting he’s been good since day one and sets a great example for teammates both on and off the pitch. The upcoming tournament will mark Ayew’s third World Cup appearance after featuring in 2014 and 2022.
On the goalkeeping front, Addo heaped praise on Benjamin Asare, whose meteoric rise has seen him become the undisputed first-choice shot-stopper ahead of some of Ghana’s most established names. Asare made his debut for the senior national team in March 2025 during a World Cup qualifier, and Addo described him simply as really good, suggesting the young keeper has earned his place through performance rather than reputation.
Looking ahead to squad selection for the 2026 World Cup, Addo hinted that the core of Ghana’s current squad will remain for the tournament. He emphasized loyalty, consistency, and trust as key factors while leaving room for emerging talents who demonstrate the right commitment and quality. That approach suggests he’s building toward continuity rather than wholesale changes, even as speculation swirls about potential additions.
Ghana will discover their group-stage opponents on December 5, 2025, when the official World Cup draw takes place in Washington, D.C. The tournament, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, represents Ghana’s fifth World Cup appearance and Addo’s second consecutive qualification as head coach, making him the first Ghanaian coach to lead the team to back-to-back World Cups.
Addo’s firm stance on commitment versus convenience reflects a broader debate about national identity and loyalty in modern football. As more players hold dual nationalities and face choices about which country to represent, national team coaches are increasingly weighing not just talent but also genuine connection and commitment to the cause. For Ghana, that calculation has become particularly important given past experiences with players who’ve switched allegiance but failed to fully integrate or contribute at crucial moments.
The coach’s message serves as a reminder that wearing the Black Stars jersey isn’t just about individual glory or a convenient platform for players whose first-choice nations haven’t selected them. It’s about representing a country with pride, committing through good times and bad, and prioritizing collective success over personal advancement. Whether that philosophy will limit Ghana’s talent pool or strengthen team cohesion remains to be seen, but Addo appears determined to build a culture where loyalty matters as much as ability.
For Hudson-Odoi, Nketiah, and other foreign-born players considering a switch, the path to the Black Stars isn’t closed, but it won’t be automatic either. They’ll need to demonstrate that their interest stems from genuine connection to Ghana rather than opportunistic timing. And they’ll need to convince Addo that bringing them into the fold will strengthen rather than disrupt the unity he’s worked to build within a squad that’s already proven it can compete at the highest level.
As Ghana prepares for its fifth World Cup appearance, Addo’s comments have set clear expectations about who belongs in the national team and why. Talent matters, but so does timing, commitment, and genuine pride in representing the Black Stars. It’s a message that resonates beyond football, touching on questions of identity, belonging, and what it truly means to play for your country when you have choices about which jersey to wear.
